1. Toyota Highlander
  2. Problems
  3. 2001
  4. Automatic Transmission

2001 Toyota Highlander Automatic Transmission Problems

9
Owner complaint records in our dataset

Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.

Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.

Among these 9 stored complaint records:

  • 2 indicate a crash
  • 1 indicate injury
  • 0 indicate fire

Mileage in stored records

BandRecords
30–60k mi2
60–100k mi1
1–30k mi1

Complaint records

Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.

  • March 20, 2012 · 56,600 miles

    Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control

    I was backing out of the garage when the car accelerated. I kept hitting the brake and it finally stopped. I put the car back into drive and it accelerated again. I tried hitting the brake and it wouldn't stop until it hit the garage door. I don't know how fast it was going, but it seemed like it was going at an excessive speed. *kb

    Crash reported

    ODI 10452362

  • January 21, 2008 · 10,103 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    When shifted to reverse gear from parked condition car accelerated and caused crash to the rear of the car to wall. *cn

    Crash reported · 1 injury

    ODI 10216399

  • October 1, 2004

    Automatic Transmission

    2001 toyota highlander, v6 engine, auto transmission. There is a definite hesitation/lag/delay in shifting and acceleration. This condition happens almost all of the time and creates a real safety concern. Moderate acceleration will produce this condition. Toyota is aware of this condition but is doing nothing to correct it. *jb

    ODI 10098738

  • January 29, 2003 · 50,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    I bought my 2001 toyota highlander in august 2001..........at 15 months/50,000 miles my transmission started leaking and when it started slipping toyota rapidly replaced my transmission. A leak was determined within weeks of the replacement and the torque converter seal (tcs) had to be replaced. Upon replacing the tcs the drive shaft was found to be damaged and had to be replaced. Has the highlander required…

    ODI 10011054

  • June 26, 2001 · 84,900 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    I own a 2001 toyota highlander, 85000 miles. 3 weeks ago the transmission failed. I called the toyota dealership and was told they could not help me. I had a transmission shop rebuild the transmission and when taking it apart, they found 4 planetary gears that had sustained random breaking and chipping. This appears to be a quality issue. I have reported this to toyota at corporate and dealership levels and…

    ODI 10163031

  • April 28, 2001

    Automatic Transmission · Differential Unit

    Harmonic noise from beneath car at 30 mph with power applied, similar noise, of lessened magitude at 60 mph. Dealer replaced rear differential and then transmission. Noise remains. Dealer says lexus rx300, with same transmission, has had same problem. Unknown cause as yet. *ak

    ODI 757533

  • April 1, 2001

    Automatic Transmission

    The design of the automatic shifter places it almost directly over the cup holders of the center console. Using the cupholders makes accidential contact with the shift lever very likely, and when this happens the shifter can be easily knocked out of drive and into neutral. There is no detent or other restriction to keep a slight brush with the shifter from allowing the lever to move from drive to neutral. This has…

    ODI 754067

  • March 1, 2001

    Automatic Transmission

    Defective transmission from date of purchase. It took toyota 2 months to finally fix it. I am not satisfied with the service from toyota. *ak

    ODI 753579

  • February 1, 2001

    Automatic Transmission

    Hard gear change, drag when coasting (like gear down), poor acceleration. Toyota ignores the problem; they say it is acceptable. *ak

    ODI 753581